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Foreclosures: Tips and Warnings

April 28, 2008 By

First of all, you need to be aware that a mortgage lender can foreclose your home for two reasons. The first one is defaulting on your payments. Generally, lenders will issue a Notice of Default if you miss three mortgage payments consecutively. Another possible ground for foreclosure would be a violation on a major regulation or policy of the lender.

What You Can Do
However, in most cases, the reason for a home foreclosure is due to a default in payments. For some home owners, they waited too long before taking any appropriate action that would have prevented foreclosure of their property. If you currently have a mortgage loan, it is important to be constantly aware of your payments. If for some reason, you miss one of your payments, speak with your lender right away and inform them the cause of your delay. Don’t wait until the second or third delay on your payment or for a Notice of Default before taking the initiative to contact your lender.

Even if it’s just a single payment that you missed, it would be to your advantage if you talk with your lender right away. This is especially true if you know that there is risk that you might not keep up with your monthly mortgage for the coming months. You may have been sick and cannot go to work, or you might have needed the money for an emergency or you might have been laid off from work. In case, it will not help if you just stay quiet or attempt to hide from your creditors.

For many people, receiving a Notice of Foreclosure is the end of everything. But this is not true. You will still be given some time before the actual foreclosure takes place. What many people do not know, is that banks and lenders are not too happy about foreclosing properties. Putting up a property on sale involves lots of work, time and money to get things done. If you speak with your lender, they would be more willing to extend you the time you need to make your repayment.

Foreclosure Options
Mortgage lenders have made provisions for cases of pre-foreclosure properties. They can waive some of your penalty fees to help you repay your unpaid mortgage more easily or what is commonly called Forbearance. They can also give you an extended time period so you can find enough money to repay your dues or what is known as Reinstatement. A mortgage company can also enable you to refinance your existing mortgage loan without the need to go through the whole process of re-application. This is known as Loan Modification which means you can be granted a new loan without the need to wait for an approval or processing.

With these provisions in mind, it would buy you more time if you talk to your lender as early as possible. This way, your lender can also have sufficient time to make the needed adjustments on your mortgage terms. If you decide to wait until they have already filed foreclosure, it will only be more difficult for you to request for adjustments.

Article by:
Lisa Roberts is a loan consultant with NewHorizon Finance and has been providing consumers and business owners with home loans financing since 1989. For years she has helped people with home loan problems especially pertaining to home mortgage loans and bad credit home loans.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk eBook’s Guide to Family Budgeting – Step-by-step guide to help you establish a workable budget.

Filed Under: Home

Green Ideas for Mother’s Day

April 28, 2008 By

Looking for sustainable, green ideas for Mother’s Day?

Think about it, Mothers are truly special people, giving life, sustenance and nurture for years and years.

Many retailers talk about jewelry, diamonds, perfumes, expensive shoes, etc but think about it, this is the opportunity to show how much you love her by giving something that supports a healthier and sustainable living, cleaner environment and a better world.

Here are some ideas:

Local flowers or Fair Trade Flowers.

Cut flowers are usually a winner with moms; but so many flowers are imported from other states and sometimes internationally. This requires extra resources in terms of fuel for transportation, refrigeration and at times other treatments to keep them looking fresh. If you decide on flowers as a Mothers Day gift; try to buy ones that are grown locally, give potted flowers or decorative plants that can be planted in the garden – that way she’ll have a gift that won’t wither and die within a short time or buy fair trade flowers, the second best option, supporting other mothers, like yours, make a living for them and their children in the developing world

Fair Trade/Ecological Jewelry

First of all, consider that it takes up to 5 tons of water and 20 tons of mine waste to create a simple gold ring! Consider buying something pre-loved, from a socially responsible jeweler or items made from glass, shells or recycled materials. It may sound a little tacky, but there’s some truly beautiful pieces available!

Sponsorships and memberships

How about a donation in her name for a tree planting or a conservation project might bring her joy?

Fair trade clothes and accessories

Look for items produced in fair trade conditions, like our Peruvian products. “Fair trade” is a term applied to products that meet certain conditions relating to labour (non-sweatshop), environmental standards and social policy. For example, fair trade handbags!

Beeswax Candles

Take mom away without taking nonrenewable resources from the earth. Beeswax candles are made from the only naturally existing wax on earth, and unlike soft soy candles, doesn’t require a container (meaning that they weigh less and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions during shipment).

Green gift vouchers

Sometimes its hard to decide on a gift for your Mother, especially a “green” one; so why not let your mom decide for yourself? Many green online stores now offer gift vouchers and by giving a voucher to a store that specializes in environmentally friendly products, you might open up a whole new world for your mom!

Don’t forget to explain your thoughts behind it, I am sure you will impress your Mom with the effort you’ve put into your selection.

Article by:
Gilda Pedraza, Inca Kids, Fair Trade Peruvian Art, Accessories, Artisan Toys and Decor or visit our blog for more ideas.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Shopping

Picky Eaters – 7 Ways to Get Your Child To Eat

April 28, 2008 By

Let’s face it; lots of little kids are picky eaters. Most of them outgrow this in time, but meanwhile it can be very frustrating if the picky eater is one of your own children. Questions are always in the back of your mind – Are they healthy? Will they grow? Will they fall off the doctor’s growth charts? Will they ever eat anything besides macaroni and cheese? If there are no health issues and they’re just fussy, try some of these tricks:

1. Give your dishes kid-friendly names. For example, call the food Maria’s Pixie Dust Noodles or Beautiful Butterfly Cheese Sandwiches. Some kids prefer names like Eyeball Soup or Greasy Hair Spaghetti. Whatever works and you’re not too disgusted.

2. Find out what food your child’s favorite sports person, super hero, or cartoon figure like and fix these especially for your child. Make a big deal out of it and take a picture of your child eating the extra special dish.

3. Some people are successful with sneaking bits of offending food into their child’s current favorite dishes. For instance, grated carrots in cookies, extra fruit in yogurt, raisins added to oatmeal, or a little hamburger mixed in with the mac and cheese. Baby food can be hidden in a lot of things. Be creative and experiment. When baking from scratch, you can sometimes take out half the sugar in cookie, granola, muffin, or snack cake recipes. Oftentimes you can use applesauce instead of oil.

4. Cut everything up. Sandwiches, toast, cheese, fruit, veggies, and pancakes can be cut into triangles or interesting cookie cutter shapes. Ask your child what shape he wants his cheese in today; hearts or stars. Make the presentation on the plate look appetizing, and be sure one food doesn’t touch another food! That bothers a lot of kids. You can even buy a new special “big boy” plate or “big girl” bowl. You never know, this could make the food on the plate look more interesting.

5. Kids like smoothies. Throw frozen strawberries or a berry blend, plus a banana and any other fresh fruit you want into the blender along with some milk or orange juice and 1/4 cup of cottage cheese. Let them help prepare their creation.

6. When eating out, let your picky eater try a bite of the food from your plate. If you take a bite of your entree and rate it from 1-10, your kids become curious and want to give your food their own rating. Usually if you rate it a 1 yuk, you get more takers than a 10 yummy. They see it as a fun dare.

7. Use the scarcity tactic. It works in sales and it can work at home. Make a new dish, but only just enough for the grown ups at the table. While you’re all at the table, have the grown ups praise the new dish to each other. If the kids ask, tell them it’s a new dish and “Sorry, but there’s only enough here for me and Dad. I wish you could have some, but this is all there is.” If you’ve done a good job, your children will be begging to try it. You can then happily share the small amount you made.

Some of these tactics will work some of the time, but not all of them all of the time. What’s important is that your attitude is light and you’re not forcing them to eat. Try to stay positive and be a good food role model. Eventually, although there are no guarantees, your child will slowly pass through their phase of picky eating. I thought my picky eater would never ever like more than 5 things (and 2 of them were pizza), but she did and is now a healthy and thriving teenager.

Article by:

Peggy Baron is the editor of the popular Cookin’ Kids Newsletter. Interesting themes, fun facts, silly clip art, easy recipes, kid jokes, cooking terms, and safety tips make this newsletter a hit with kids!

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Filed Under: Food & Drink

Managing Your Mother-in-Law: What Every Woman Needs To Know

April 28, 2008 By

Very few women seem to have the “perfect” relationship with their Mother-in-Laws. In fact, I have yet to meet one who does. There is a reason for this. It comes down to a very basic need all women have. Understanding this need is about her, and not about you, can go a long way in helping your relationship succeed.

* The Need Of Every Woman *

Before we go too far, it is important for you to understand your Mother-in-Law has what is deeply rooted in all women. We have a need for love. Like many women, this has translated into desire for unconditional love from a man. The problem is, us women often feel a sense of lack when it comes to our Fathers and our Husbands loving us. The grown up men in our lives are usually wounded and unable to give us the love we truly desire. What is left is a void just waiting to be filled.

* The Son Fills A Need *

Along comes the Son. He needs his Mom and at least while he is younger, his love is unconditional. Over time, this loving boy grows up to be a man, but your Mother-in-Law is left with the taste of what it is really like to be unconditionally loved. She has experienced from her Son what she has not experienced from other men. On a subconscious level, their relationship is proof that she is lovable. After all, she struggles with self worth like any other woman.

* The Wife As The Threat *

Is it any wonder that when the Son presents his new wife, she can be perceived as a threat to the relationship? The Mother-in-Law compares the Son’s wife to HERSELF. If she is not strong enough in her belief that she is okay as a woman (and most women aren’t), it is a temptation to see the shortcomings of the Daughter-in-Law so she can feel good about herself.

Your Mother-in-Law believes no other woman can love her Son like she can. When her Son is unhappy, it is the opportunity to say, “I could make him happier.” If her Son is happy, she can be even more vigilant in finding something wrong with the other woman (who happens to be you). Keep in mind this is about her, not you.

A Mother-in-Law who is further along the path of healing will find a Daughter-in-Law less threatening because she knows she is lovable as a woman. She doesn’t fear losing her Son’s love. Unfortunately, few women have found this path of healing.

Women tend to measure themselves against women. At times we wonder, “Am I beautiful enough to be loved?”; “Am I good enough?”; or “Do I have what it takes to make a man happy?” Why would this comparison be any different in a Mother to Daughter-in-Law relationship? In this case, the Mother-in-Law feels she has already proved she can love the Son better.

Where do the Daughter-in-Law hooks come in? Once again, there is this need to “prove ourselves as good enough”. We are triggered because we still want to know we’re a good enough wife, a good enough woman or a good enough mother. If we haven’t convinced ourselves, how can we stand strong enough in who we are when our Mother-in-Law comes around? If your Husband is not treating you well, even more fuel is added to the fire.

So how CAN you ease your Mother-in-Law woes?

1. Have Mercy. Begin by recognizing your Mother-in-Law has hurts that are at the heart of every woman. How she deals with you is an overflow out of the pain in her own heart. Those hurts are about her and have nothing to do with you. You just happen to be the one who married her Son.

Choose to treat your Mother-in-Law with gentleness and respect. She is simply another woman struggling with to come to terms with the value past society seems to have placed on all women. She has some of the same needs you do.

2. Build Yourself Up. The strongest kind of love you can have is when you love others as much as yourself. Love without self love has many hooks in it. You are less vulnerable to attack when you are worthy in your own eyes. You are less likely to react negatively and less likely to get hurt by it all.

Strengthen your heart by affirming your own value. Find ways to build up your self esteem. Choose to accept that you are beautiful. You are talented and you are good enough. You don’t need your Mother-in-Law’s approval to be okay with your value as a woman or as a wife.

3. Deflect Those Arrows. If you Mother-in-Law throws an arrow towards you, choose not to take the arrow into your heart. If a dart does find it’s mark, remove it gently by reminding yourself you are OK as a woman. Remember, you ARE lovable, beautiful, and good enough to be with her Son. Don’t take her hurts on as your own. The more you are okay with who you are, the less Mother-in-Law troubles will affect you.

4. Stand Your Ground. Boundaries are much more productive than “war lines”. Learn to put boundaries around you and your heart. Consider what your boundaries may be and how you will react in a way that honors your Mother-in-Law while standing your ground. There is no reason for attack, especially when you remember she is already feeling threatened by you. You can treat her with dignity and respect while making sure you don’t betray your own self and how you’ve chosen to live your life.

A good place to start is by setting boundaries around how you are treated or by affirming your control in areas related to your personal life. Consider carefully what the consequence will be so you aren’t left stumbling if your boundary is crossed. It’s a good idea to warn your Husband that you value yourself enough to stand strong in the areas that matter most. This is YOUR boundary, but his support would be most welcome!

5. Commit To Being Yourself. Don’t become the woman you think your Mother-in-Law accuses you of being. Learn to get comfortable with who you really are. Of course that means accepting you are valuable and have a lot to offer. Why hide who you really are? It’s time to be yourself, without apology.

This doesn’t mean exposing yourself in a way that opens you up for abuse. It simply means to “just be you” when around her. It takes a lot of stress out of the relationship when you decide to be you instead of trying to be what she wants. Make the decision to not get stressed or rattled. Your Mother-in-Law doesn’t decide your worth so she cannot get to you unless you let her.

So now you have some strategies for managing Mother-in-Law woes. Remember, keeping your issues separate from your Mother-in-Law’s issues can ease the struggles which are bound to happen. It doesn’t have to get so hard at times!

Article by:
Tami Szabo specializes in Personal Success Coaching for Women who want to create a life of passion and purpose at home and at work. Learn about Wives Alive Coaching and Get Free Success Tips for Women on her website.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Relationships

WAHM: Work-at-Home Doesn’t Mean Stuck-at-Home

April 28, 2008 By

If you work at home, it’s easy to get into the trap of being home all the time. Although many of us love our homes and we all love our families, sometimes this at-home stuff can get a little out of hand. If you haven’t seen your friends, extended family or even much sunlight in a while, it might be time to shake things up a bit.

For WAHMs of Little Ones

I know when I first started my home business with a little wee baby on my arm, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have to run all over town selling my wares just to work at home. It seemed like such an oxymoron that all these “work-at-home opportunities” required that you get out of the house and sell products several times per week.

Even if you’re in the same boat now, that doesn’t excuse you from getting out with baby and getting a break just for mom now and then. You may work at home, but there’s plenty of fun to be had out there in the real world.

For WAHMs of Older Children

If your kids are older and in school, you might enjoy incorporating some out of home activities into your regular business day. For example, get out for networking events, learning opportunities, meeting clients and teaching. You can still have a home base of operations, but get out there talking to real flesh-and-blood human adults and you’ll see it’s great to be out in the real world.

For ALL WAHMs

Regardless of how you run your business, make sure you schedule a little fun, fitness and socialization into each day. It’s way too easy to get into the “in your PJs” rut. It’s true that working in your PJs has some perks, but a change of pace is good now and then too.

Here are some ideas to get you going:

• Join a gym, walking club or make some kind of commitment to fitness. If you have a baby, join a gym with a play center or get out with the stroller.

• Join a mommy group where kids can play and mommies can chat.

• Volunteer at your child’s school or for an organization you care about.

• Go on many dates with your spouse or significant other.

• Call your family and connect more often.

• Call old friends who may have forgotten who you are and plan a date.

It doesn’t really matter what you do, but do something. Remember, bears, frogs and gophers hibernate – but humans don’t.

About the Author: Alice Seba is the Schmoozer in Chief at Schmoozins, the online magazine that gives all women a voice. Join us as a contributor, a schmoozer or just hang out a while.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Home Business & Telecommuting
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